Identifying Red Flags in a Nonprofit’s Finances Spotting potential issues in a nonprofit’s financial health can help you make informed decisions. Keep an eye out for these warning signs in financial documents and conversations: Financial Statement Red Flags Declining annual revenue or net assets Increasing receivables or recurring operating deficits Consistently low reserves or frequent... Read More
While many funders seek to build strong relationships with their grantees, sometimes barriers prevent them from doing so. One of the biggest barriers funders cited is failing to acknowledge the power dynamic between funders and grantees. In an Exponent Philanthropy blog post, Lori Heninger described how this power imbalance works: “There is a power imbalance... Read More
Succession tops the list of what keeps foundations up at night, yet many are reluctant to tackle the issue. Addressing succession early on has a number of benefits: It’s important to pass organizational strengths to future leaders while senior board members are still active. Disputes over mission, the pressure of geographic dispersal, uneven competencies and... Read More
Small-staffed funders draw on many assets besides money to advance issues in the policy arena: Human assets. Consider the creativity, passion and resourcefulness of founders, trustees, family and staff. Freedom to focus on an issue and persevere over the long term. Philanthropists have the freedom to “go deep” on an issue and commit. Most problems... Read More
Consider the following questions when hiring investment managers directly: What is the manager’s investment philosophy? Does the manager try to help you understand the philosophy, or just use terms meant to put off your questions? Does the manager pick securities from a preapproved list? If so, what is the justification or strategy for doing so?... Read More
As the board’s chief volunteer officer, the chair is responsible for leading the board and ensuring it fulfills its governance role effectively. The position requires deep commitment to the foundation, strong leadership skills, and personal integrity. To succeed, a chair must earn and maintain the respect of fellow trustees through fairness, preparation, and follow-through. An... Read More